Billie Eilish has been unapologetically herself since the start of her young career, and her authenticity shines through on her third studio album. Hit Me Hard and Soft lives up to its name, as it sees her getting vulnerable and honest while maturing as an artist and experimenting with new sounds.
When Eilish first announced this album, she described it as a record that “hits you hard and soft both lyrically and sonically while bending genres and defying trends along the way.” This description couldn’t be more fitting, and she also stayed true to her promise that this album would immerse listeners into a full spectrum of emotions.
Hit Me Hard and Soft grabs you from the very first song and never lets go. “Skinny” is the record’s emotional anchor, but the album really picks up with its lead single “Lunch,” which sees Eilish getting very honest about her attraction to girls.
“Lunch” has the potential to become the “Bad Guy” of Hit Me Hard and Soft, and it sees Eilish staying true to herself while not shying away from getting weird and experimental. She finds a perfect balance between soft melodies and catchier electronic sounds throughout this album, sometimes even on the same songs.
This record goes from soft to hard somewhere in the middle, with “L’Amour De Ma Vie,” which feels like two songs wrapped into one, both amazing in their own right. She also often explores the same themes and repeats the same phrases, with the final track “Blue” being the perfect example since it reprises some of the lyrics recurring throughout the album.
At just 10 tracks, Hit Me Hard and Soft could have easily felt too short, but it never does. Not a single song feels out of place, and Eilish’s decision to release them all at once was the right call because they tie so perfectly together, in terms of both the lyrics and the sound.
Hit Me Hard and Soft cements Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell’s reputation as one of the most interesting musical duos working today. It’s a raw and honest record that shows Eilish isn’t afraid of taking risks as she matures as an artist, and this is shaping up to be her biggest strength.
